Press Releases, 09/07/2012 | Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Tokyo international conference stresses the status of women in Afghanistan

Press Release 169/2012
8 July 2012

The international conference on long-term support of economy and development in Afghanistan emphasizes participation of women in the peace process and development of society on its many levels. On Finland's initiative Afghanistan committed to enhancing women's rights more vigorously in the outcome document.

Young Hazaras in Afghanistan. Photo: MFA

The international community's ability to sustain high level support was bound to mutual accountability framework on a joint agreement. The sponsors commit to support the Afghan national development plan through foreseeable development assistance in the forthcoming years. Afghanistan was promised USD 16 billion (EUR 13 billion) by the end of 2015.

The Afghan government committed to improve the basic prerequisites for development, such as good government, rule of law, fight against corruption, human rights and especially the rights of women and children.

“I believe the Tokyo conference will improve the rights of the Afghan women, now that the Afghan government finally sees that the international community is adamant about it,” says Minister for International Development Heidi Hautala.

“For the first time, the Afghan government said they are going to engage the civil society in the work for the common goal. I'm sure this will bring more sustainable development results,” Hautala says.

Finland committed to increase development assistance to EUR 30 million by 2014 and promised to continue on the agreed level at least until 2017.

The representatives of 55 countries and 25 international organisations and the representatives of the Afghan government and non-governmental organisations gathered in Tokyo on 8 July to reaffirm and deepen their partnership. The Finnish delegation was led by Minister for International Development Heidi Hautala.

Minister Hautala and the EU Special Representative for Afghanistan Vygaudas Ušackas. Finland and Italy encouraged many other EU countries to stress recognition of women's rights in their speeches. Photo: MFA